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SENSORS Tech Forum: A “Smart” Sensors Technology Event

Thursday, 25 August 2011

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Over the past ten years, the worldwide sensors technology market has experienced tremendous growth. Today’s sensor
technology has been woven seamlessly into our everyday lives through a vast array of new and exciting applications that
continue to evolve at a pace never seen before. To put things into perspective, ten years ago the average automobile utilized
about 35 sensors. Today, the average automobile incorporates more than 100 sensors that measure and monitor everything from
speed, oxygen, and brakes, to parking assistance and airbags.

Here we provide a preview of the conference sessions, special events, and keynote presentations that you can be a part of
at SENSORS Tech Forum. And get a sneak peek at the products on display by exhibitors in the SENSORS Tech Forum Exhibitor
Showcase on pages 94 and 96 in this issue. Find a full exhibitor list at www.sensorstechforum.com/exhibitors.html.

To register, and for more information, visit www.sensorstechforum.com.

NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist
(OCT) has embarked on the development of
a set of Space Technology Roadmaps (STRs)
to identify and emphasize technologies that provide substantial
enhancements in NASA mission capabilities and where
significant technology investments are anticipated to be
needed. The set of draft STRs introduces a proposed taxonomy
of 14 Technology Areas (TAs), identifies top challenges,
describes potential contributions to other national needs,
and ultimately offers ways to advance the nation’s capabilities
for scientific discovery and exploration of space. The set of
STRs was drafted by subject matter experts within NASA, and
each report is being independently assessed by the National
Research Council.

Opening Night Networking Reception

(Sponsored by NASA Tech Briefs)

Tuesday, October 11, 5:30 – 7 pm

What better way to end a busy first day of the Forum than by
unwinding with some great food and drink! This is the signature
event of the Forum and there’s no better place to network,
meet new friends and colleagues, and talk about the day you
had. The Opening Night Networking Reception is open to all
registered attendees.

Pre-Conference Tutorials

SENSORS Tech Forum presents two intensive, all-day, pre-conference tutorials on Monday, October 10 from 10 am to 5
pm. These tutorials were developed exclusively for this event. Gain invaluable knowledge on the latest advancements in
MEMS and CBRNE technology, and new applications.

MEMS-Enabled High-Volume
Commercialization Opportunities

Led by session organizer and chairman
Roger H. Grace of Roger Grace Associates,
this session brings together leading re -
searchers from academia, laboratories, and
industry to share their MEMS development
activities that are expected to enable largevolume
applications in the near future. Although Micro -
electromechanical Systems (MEMS) have existed for many
decades, it has only been recently that MEMS devices have
enabled large-volume, or killer, applications. The future of
MEMS continues to look bright based on the highly expected
commercialization of numerous large-volume applications
including consumer games, mobile phones, structural
health monitoring through wireless autonomous sensor
networks (WASN), medical diagnostics and point-of-care
applications, guidance systems for military munitions, and
analytical instruments for environmental monitoring.

Roger Grace also will present his “MEMS Industry
Commercialization Report Card,” which will assess the performance
of the MEMS community in addressing 14 critical
success factors for 2010. A panel discussion will conclude
the day, addressing key barriers to the commercialization
of MEMS.

Question of the Week

This week's Question: A recent study created by the Arizona-based Paragon Space Development Corporation says its life support system could help humans survive on Mars. The proposed Environmental Control and Life Support System, the company says,...